Settling on the right forehand grip can be tough. Conservative grips give you power but not too much spin. More extreme grips are the opposite — more spin, less power. What should you do?
In the long run you want to choose a grip that works into the larger framework of your game. If you’re an attacking player, a more conservative grip is probably best. If you’re a counterpuncher, a more extreme grip is likely a better fit.
What if you’ve just started or are still working out the kinks in your forehand technique? In that case, copy Roger Federer!
As we explain in the video below, Roger uses the eastern forehand grip. This conservative grip facilitates a flat (horizontal) swing path. Thus, hitting through the ball is much easier than with a more extreme grip (extreme grips result in more vertical swing paths).
For this reason, most novices who start with extreme grips have trouble learning how to hit through the ball. Their forehands tend to have lots of spin, little pace, and land short. Against decent competition, these forehands are easily exploited.
It’s true that using a conservative grip will limit your ability to hit with topspin from the get-go. However, the ability to hit through the ball — with fundamentally sound technique — is an absolute must for high-level play. Once you can do that, it’s safe to experiment with more extreme grips because you’ll still be hitting through the ball properly.
Do you use a conservative grip — like Federer — or a more extreme grip — like Nadal?
